During a recent after-school session with young people, the issue of ‘Climate Change’ came up once again and this prompted a larger conversation: is that the best way to describe it?
We recognise that at Jump Studios we have a responsibility to sensibly facilitate the conversations between young people around social action.
Topics like racism and sustainability often, and understandably, come up in conversations with the young people that come to our sessions. It’s our job to ensure that the conversation takes place without bias and political influence from our side.
We recently held a session where a young person challenged the term ‘Climate Change’ and prompted us questioning whether this is something which now transcends politics.
What you need to know about the Climate Emergency:
- Climate change is real and human activities are the main cause.
- The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth.
- The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global temperatures along with it, since the time of the Industrial Revolution.
- The most abundant greenhouse gas, accounting for about two-thirds of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), is largely the product of burning fossil fuels.
- Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is responsible for more than 25 per cent of the warming we are experiencing today. It is a powerful pollutant with a global warming potential over 80 times greater than CO2 during the 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere.
What is the problem with saying ‘Climate Change’?
What we gathered from the discussion is that young people undoubtedly appreciate the importance of the environment and realise the negative impact humans are having on it.
They also deemed that climate ‘change’ was too natural a term and that we could do more to address the situation. One young person summarised the issue very well:
“Change is neutral. Emergency is now”
2019 was the second hottest year on record (source: WMO) and suggesting that it is simply ‘different’ is the equivalent of suggesting a pan of boiling water ‘isn’t cold’. Whilst true, it is certainly misleading.
We have an opportunity at Jump Studios to help influence social action through the next generation and this is not a question of what we think is right, rather what the young people think. We don’t need to give lectures on these issues because, even amongst young people aged 10 to 14, they already know the challenge we face.
We are not looking to change the discourse on the topic but rather give it a more suitable terminology.
Why ‘Climate Emergency’?
The reason is simply that it is just that, an emergency.
If the next generation can be raised beginning the conversation with ‘Climate Emergency’ as opposed to just ‘Change’ then the next generation can be using the terminology that they deem suitable.
What can you do?
If you, or somebody you know, work with young people, then consider asking them what they think is a more fitting term: ‘Climate Change’ or ‘Climate Emergency’.
We’ve found with the young people that attend our sessions that these issues are well-established in their discourse and that they want to talk about it.
It’s up to us to give them the best opportunity to grow up and help positively change the society we live in.
If you have any questions, then feel free to email me at scott@kwmc.org.uk to discuss why we have made this decision or how we are implementing it.
Keep up to date with our journey by following Jump Studios on Instagram and Twitter.
